[27]
See 'Percy's Reliques of Ancient English Poetry.'
[28]
This last circumstance seems imitated from a passage in the 'Life of Merlin,' by Jeffrey of Monmouth. See Ellis's 'Ancient Romances,' vol. i. p. 73.
[29]
In this the author is in the same ignorance as his namesake Reginald, though having at least as many opportunities of information.
[30]
In popular tradition, the name of Thomas the Rhymer was always averred to be Learmonth. though he neither uses it himself, nor is described by his son other than Le Rymour. The Learmonths of Dairsie, in Fife, claimed descent from the prophet.
[31]
'Discourse of Devils and Spirits appended to the Discovery of Witchcraft,' by Reginald Scot, Esq., book ii. chap. 3, sec. 10.
[32]
Hudkin is a very familiar devil, who will do nobody hurt, except he receive injury; but he cannot abide that, nor yet be mocked. He talketh with men friendly, sometimes visibly, sometimes invisibly. There go as many tales upon this Hudkin in some parts of Germany as there did in England on Robin Goodfellow.—'Discourse concerning Devils,' annexed to 'The Discovery of Witchcraft,' by Reginald Scot, book i. chap. 21.
[33]
The curious collection of trials, from 'The Criminal Records of Scotland,' now in the course of publication, by Robert Pitcairn, Esq., affords so singular a picture of the manners and habits of our ancestors, while yet a semibarbarous people, that it is equally worth the attention of the historian, the antiquary, the philosopher, and the poet.
[34]
See 'Scottish Poems,' edited by John G. Dalzell, p. 321.
[35]
Pitcairn's 'Trials,' vol. i. pp. 191-201.
[36]
The title continues:—'Among the Low Country Scots, as they are described by those who have the second sight, and now, to occasion farther enquiry, collected and compared by a circumspect enquirer residing among the Scottish-Irish (
[37]
Edinburgh, 1812.
[38]
Pennant's 'Tour in Scotland,' vol. i. p. 110.
[39]
Friars limited to beg within a certain district.
[40]
'Wife of Bath's Tale.'
